Questions and Answers
Many insects may consume pollen or the nectar without bringing about ______.
pollination
The majority of flowering plants produce ______ flowers.
hermaphrodite
Pollen release and stigma receptivity are not ______ in some species.
synchronised
Self-incompatibility prevents self-pollen from fertilising the ______.
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Unisexual flowers can prevent ______, but not geitonogamy.
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Flowering plants have developed many devices to discourage ______ and encourage cross-pollination.
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In some species, stigma becomes receptive much before the release of ______.
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Floral visitors that do not contribute to pollination are referred to as pollen/______ robbers.
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Geitonogamy is similar to autogamy since the pollen grains come from the same ______.
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Xenogamy involves the transfer of pollen grains from anther to the stigma of a different ______.
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Plants use two abiotic agents, wind and water, and one biotic agent, ______, for pollination.
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The majority of plants use ______ agents for pollination.
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Pollen grains coming in contact with the stigma is a chance factor in both wind and water ______.
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Plants produce an enormous amount of pollen when compared to the number of ______ available for pollination.
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Wind pollination is more common amongst ______ pollinations.
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Self-pollination is functionally ______ while cross-pollination brings genetically different types.
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Pollen-pistil interaction begins with pollen ______ followed by promotion or inhibition.
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Breeders manipulate pollen-pistil interaction to achieve desired ______.
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To study pollen germination, dust pollen on a glass slide with a drop of ______ solution.
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The process of removing anthers from bisexual flowers is known as ______.
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After emasculation, flowers are covered with a bag made of ______ paper to prevent contamination.
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In artificial hybridization, the stigma must be protected from unwanted ______.
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When the stigma attains receptivity, mature pollen from the male parent is ______ on the stigma.
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Female flower buds that produce unisexual flowers do not require ______.
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Study Notes
Pollination and Flower Visitors
- Observation of flowers at various times is essential to identify animal visitors that may act as pollinators.
- Correlation between flower characteristics and visiting animals can be established through detailed observation.
- Only visitors that contact both anthers and stigma facilitate true pollination; others are classified as pollen/nectar robbers.
Outbreeding Devices in Flowering Plants
- Majority of flowering plants have hermaphrodite flowers, risking inbreeding through self-pollination, which leads to inbreeding depression.
- Mechanisms to prevent self-pollination include:
- Asynchronous release of pollen and stigma receptivity.
- Physical separation of anthers and stigma to inhibit self-contact.
- Self-incompatibility, a genetic mechanism preventing self-fertilization via pollen germination inhibition.
- Production of unisexual flowers, found in plants like castor and maize, discouraging autogamy but allowing geitonogamy.
Types of Pollination
- Xenogamy involves the transfer of pollen between different plants, promoting genetic diversity.
- Abiotic pollination primarily involves wind and water, while the majority relies on biotic agents, such as animals.
Pollination Mechanisms
- Wind pollination is a common abiotic method, where pollen transfer is a chance factor, requiring plants to produce excess pollen.
- Pollination efficiency can be studied through pollen germination experiments using sugar solutions to observe the development of pollen tubes.
Breeding Techniques in Plants
- Plant breeders utilize pollen-pistil interactions to obtain desired hybrids, even in cases of incompatibility.
- Artificial hybridization is critical for crop improvement.
- Emasculation is performed to remove anthers and avoid unwanted pollen contamination.
- Bagging ensures stigma protection until receptivity, followed by controlled pollen application from the desired male parent.
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Description
This quiz challenges you to observe and identify the animals that visit different flowers. You'll explore the role of these visitors in pollination and examine any correlations between flower characteristics and pollinator behavior. Test your understanding of this fascinating aspect of ecology!
